India’s Historical Moment | ISRO Launches 100th Satellite PSLV-C40

At 9.29am today, Space agencyISRO successfully launched the PSLV carrying India’s 100th satellite along with 30 others from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV lifted off its first mission after the failure of IRNSS – 1H in August. The launch of IRNSS-1H is failed because of a freak accident. It is an India’s first privately built satellite and 42nd flight of the PSLV.

The PSLV carries 31 satellites in total from countries including India and six other countries such as Canada, Finland, France, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. Two satellites from India and 28 satellites from other six countries. All the 31 satellites would be launched into Earth’s lower orbit and it will be the third installation of the Cartosat-2 series.

Cartosat-2 is a remote sensing satellite with the resolution of 0.6 metres which can spot even smaller objects within a square of 0.6 m by 0.6 m. The ISRO scientists made it public, that these satellites are capable of high-resolution in specific spot imagery. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Satellite Centre Director M Annadurai told reporters said,

“When the last satellite is ejected out it will become the hundredth satellite…the first century we have done. It is the maiden century. So PSLV-C40 marks maiden century of Indian satellite,”

PSLV-C40 have done through the technology called “multiple burn technologies” under which the rocket’s engine is switched off and then switched on to control its height.